First Images Released From Newest Earth Observation Satellite

March 21, 2013

Steve Cole
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0918
stephen.e.cole@nasa.gov

Jon Campbell
U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va.
703-648-1480
joncampbell@usgs.gov


RELEASE: 13-080

FIRST IMAGES RELEASED FROM NEWEST EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE

WASHINGTON -- NASA and the Department of the Interior's U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) have released the first images from the
Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) satellite, which was launched
Feb. 11.

The natural-color images show the intersection of the United States
Great Plains and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming
and Colorado. In the images, green coniferous forests in the
mountains stretch down to the brown plains with Denver and other
cities strung south to north.

LDCM acquired the images at about 1:40 p.m. EDT March 18. The
satellite's Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor
(TIRS) instruments observed the scene simultaneously. The USGS Earth
Resources Observation and Science Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.,
processed the data.

"We are very excited about this first collection of simultaneous
imagery," said Jim Irons, LDCM project scientist at NASA's Goddard
Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "These images confirm we have
two healthy, functioning sensors that survived the rigors of launch
and insertion into Earth orbit."

Since launch, LDCM has been going through on-orbit testing. The
mission operations team has completed its review of all major
spacecraft and instrument subsystems, and performed multiple
spacecraft attitude maneuvers to verify the ability to accurately
point the instruments.

The two LDCM sensors collect data simultaneously over the same ground
path. OLI collects light reflected off the surface of Earth in nine
different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including bands of
visible light and near-infrared and short-wave-infrared bands, which
are beyond human vision. TIRS collects data at two longer wavelength
thermal infrared bands that measure heat emitted from the surface.

By looking at different band combinations, scientists can distinguish
features on the land surface. These features include forests and how
they respond to natural and human-caused disturbances, and the health
of agricultural crops and how much water they use. Data from LDCM
will extend a continuous, 40-year-long data record of Earth's surface
from previous Landsat satellites, an unmatched, impartial perspective
that allows scientists to study how landscapes all across the world
change through time.

"These first scenes from the new Landsat satellite continue the
remarkable output from the Landsat program with better, more useful
imagery and information," said Matthew C. Larsen, associate director
for climate and land use change at the U.S. Geological Survey in
Reston, Va. "We are gratified that this productive partnership
between USGS and NASA has maintained the continuity and utility of
this essential satellite tool, providing the foundation for land and
water management around the globe."

As planned, LDCM currently is flying in an orbit slightly lower than
its operational orbit of 438 miles (705 kilometers) above Earth's
surface. As the spacecraft's thrusters raise its orbit, the NASA-USGS
team will take the opportunity to collect imagery while LDCM is
flying under Landsat 7, also operating in orbit. Measurements
collected simultaneously from both satellites will allow the team to
cross-calibrate the LDCM sensors with Landsat 7's Enhanced Thematic
Mapper-Plus instrument.

"So far, our checkout activities have gone extremely well," said Ken
Schwer, LDCM project manager at Goddard. "The mission operations team
has done a tremendous job getting us to the point of imaging Earth."
During the next few weeks, this team will calibrate the instruments
and verify they meet performance specifications.

After its checkout and commissioning phase is complete, LDCM will
begin its normal operations in May. At that time, NASA will hand over
control of the satellite to the USGS, which will operate it
throughout its planned five-year mission life. The satellite will be
renamed Landsat 8. USGS will process data from OLI and TIRS and add
it to the Landsat Data Archive at the USGS Earth Resources
Observation and Science Center, where it will be distributed for free
via the Internet.

For more information on these first LDCM images, visit:


http://go.nasa.gov/13cHhFJ

For more information on the LDCM mission, visit:


http://www.nasa.gov/landsat


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